Hi everyone! I hope you all are doing great. I'm doing quite well myself...it is my first descanso (rest/time off) since I started working so I'm having a weekend of lazy times, which seems appropriate considering the relentless rain here in Cuernavaca. We volunteers get every other weekend off.
Two weekends ago was graduation in Miacatlan and in Cuernavaca and it was such an exciting and busy time for NPH. The Monday after graduation was moving day- the high school graduates moved out (most went to Miacatlan to complete their two years of family service being caregivers to the young kids) and the big, bad middle school graduates have moved into the house here in Cuernavaca where they're now the little guys all over again.
Last weekend was the new kids' first weekend in the city so my fellow volunteers, encargados (caregivers), and I took them in two groups of 25 kids to tour the city. While some of the kids are very familiar with Cuernavaca, many haven't
travelled much outside of the house at Miacatlan. This was great for me as well because although I've started to explore Cuernavaca some, I am still a little fuzzy on my directions. We went to the market, the centro (aka the zocalo), Cortes' palace (a museum), and la fayuca (the cheap market I definitely can find on my own).
Tucked inside one of the small streets of shopping is the chapel where NPH started. NPH began in 1954 when a Catholic priest from Arizona who was commissioned to that tiny chapel was brought to the jail to testify against a small boy who was arrested for stealing money from the offering place. Father Wasson spoke to the little boy and found out he was taking the money because he didn't have money for food and he was an orphan. Father Wasson decided to adopt the boy and care for him as he would a son. What started out with one little child quickly multiplied into 8, then 12, then hundreds. Although Father Wasson passed away in 2006, NPH continues to provide love and support for thousands of orphans and abandoned children in nine different countries.
Long story short, this guy was legit and started a very special family. It was fun to visit the church with the kids.
Here's a picture of our group from Sunday on the steps of the chapel where NPH started
As for this week, it has been busy! Monday we took alllll the kids to a "natural water park" called Las Estacas. It was very chill and relaxing. I learned that NPH excursions are all day affairs- left at 7:30 am and got back at 6:30 at night! Whew! I went swimming a bit and hung out with the kids all day. We played lots of Monopoly Deal, a card game I found in Spanish at Wal Mart.
On Tuesday I finally started my morning job in the scholarship office. I will work there 8:30-1:30 every morning. I was really looking forward to it, however, due to some unforeseen computer-sabotaging mishaps, it was rather stressful! This week has been spent trying to recover important documents and trying to work through the mounds of work that had stacked up in the transition time. In all honesty, besides for the computer problems, I really enjoy it. I was working on scholarship substitutions and letter translating all week. It is good to finally get started so I can establish my routine.
After work, I grab lunch in the comedor and by two the kids come down and we serve them. I'm still enjoying the food for the most part. I have a break between 3 and 6 so this week I went to Wal Mart several times to run errands and print photos during that time. 6-8 pm is activity time. This week I played soccer (lots of girls vs. not many guys, funny times) and cards with the kids on the days that it was rainy (3/4 days).
I'm starting to get into the groove of things and really enjoy life here. I think it should only get better the better I get to know my fellow volunteers, the employees, and most of all, the kids. I am brainstorming special activities to do with the girls...I've been having lots of inspiration, so I hope I'm able to carry some of my ideas out! Let me know if you think of any really special things I could do for our group of high school girls.
Side bar: I'm getting a kick of hanging out with high schoolers. They are really funny and make me roll my eyes a lot. The girls are in love with Justin Beiber and even I get Enrique's "Cuando Me Enamoro" song stuck in my head way more frequently than I should. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DO8GsIYfhQ ...enjoy)
Okay, I gotta run! Tonight is NPH-Mexico's national director's daughter's quincenera party...only the social event of the century. Despite being on descanso I will have to go down and make an appearance for this...and hopefully enjoy good food.
I send my love up your way!!
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